Carp fishing is one of the most common angling pastimes in the world and yet people are spending ridiculous amounts of money on bait when they could be using things they already have. Like corn.
Even if you don’t have a stash of corn in your vegetable draw at home, you can pick it up incredibly cheaply at the grocery store. What’s more, there are some great ways to improve the success rate of your corn bait and in this guide, we will be looking at everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
Why Use Corn For Carp Bait?
One of the most popular types of bait for carp fishing is the boilie. These are being sold by the kilo all over the world and the best ones yield some amazing results.
However, if you want to move away from the norm, you may be surprised by how many you reel in when fishing for carp with corn.
Carp love the sweetness of corn and this is one of the main reasons that people have so much success when using it.
It can be used alone or in combination with other bait types, like the boilies we have already talked about. Moreover, corn makes an incredible pre-bait, if you prepare it properly.
Another great advantage of fishing with corn is its bright yellow color which is immediately attractive to fish, especially in darker waters.
That said, you must also keep in mind that since it is small, this reduces its visibility somewhat.
Am I Allowed To Fish For Carp With Corn?
There are a couple of things that make corn a bad bait in terms of nature and the environment. Primarily, corn, when used in great amounts could affect the quality of the water.
This is because it does not disintegrate as quickly as other types of bait and this can affect the water.
Furthermore, there are some people who believe that corn has a negative effect on the fish’s digestive system. While it probably won’t do them much harm, it’s nutritional value to carp is zero.
If you are considering using corn as carp bait then you must keep in mind that there may be some restrictions on where you can do this.
For the most part, anglers in the USA are permitted to use corn as bait when fishing but there may be some deviations from this rule depending on the state.
This is why it is vital to always check state laws before fishing. Moreover, there are some places that do not allow corn to be used as a pre-bait.
Preparing Your Corn For Carp Fishing
It is possible to purchase ready-prepped corn but if you want to have a complete experience then it is best to prepare your own. There are different types of corn that you can use and we will look at these in a little more detail later on.
If you are using dry corn then you should only prepare enough to last you a week at a time. Otherwise, you run the risk of it going bad before you have had the chance to use it.
To begin with, you will need to thoroughly wash the corn to remove any dirt or bacteria that may be present. You’ll then need to soak it overnight or for at least eight hours. Once you have done this, it’s time to cook the corn.
It should be cooked in boiling water for 45 minutes. At this point, you may decide to add some sweeteners.
Using natural ones like honey or sugar is the best option and you can then add additives (which are available at fishing stores) to the drained corn.
These are available in various colors and flavors and most anglers will find that they have more success with certain ones. In the early days, it is about trial and error so try to have a bit of fun while you are doing it.
We should also point out that when you are making pre-bait, you will want attractants that are going to draw in the fish. Molasses are a great option as are breadcrumbs.
Your corn is now ready to use but if you aren’t heading out onto the water right away, you can store the corn in an airtight container for up to one week.
What Type Of Corn Should I Use?
As we have already mentioned, there are several different types of corn that work well for carp fishing. So, before you start your preparation, it pays to think about the best type for you.
- Dry corn is increidbly affordable and while it does require a little more preparation, you do have the chance to add in your own colors and flavors which can make it far more attractive to the fish.
- Dry and cured corn is already prepared for you but it is possible to add further ingredients to make the most out of it and attract fish more successfully.
- Canned corn is a good choice for beginners as you don’t need to worry about prepping it. While it is a little more expensive, the sweetness is very attractive to the fish and its amazingly convenient.
- Frozen corn is good if you want to stock up or are heading out on a long fishing trip. However, while it is convenient and ready to use, the freezing process can cause it to lose much of its sweetness.
How To Fish For Carp With Corn
When you first try using corn for catching carp, it can be helpful to head to familiar fishing spots so that you know where to find the fish.
If this isn’t possible, you will have the most success fishing areas that are shady and undercover.
When prebaiting, you will need to make sure of two things:
- Don’t overfeed the carp so that they don’t return when it’s time to reel them in.
- Give the fish confidence so that they will return later for more.
By doing these two things, you are giving yourself the best chance of success. But you should also think about how you will present your bait.
Earlier, we talked about how corn can become invisible owing to its small size so it is worth combining it with other bait like boilies or bread.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to create a snowman shape by placing a piece of corn on top of a boilie. Do this on a hair rig using a pop-up and you’ll be more likely to yield good results.
Artificial corn bait is available from Amazon.com and is a very popular bait for carp fishing.
Conclusion
There are many different types of bait that work well for carp but when using corn, you can have some pretty impressive catches.
Your best option is to use dried corn and prepare it yourself as you will be able to create a unique blend of colors and flavors that is sure to attract the carp. Plus, you’ll have great fun while trying out different mixes.
Once you’re on the water’s edge, be sure to pre-bait correctly to gain the carps trust without overfeeding it. Then when it’s time to strike, combine your corn with a pop-up boilie for maximum visibility under the water.
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